Malcolm Winters - Casting

Casting

The role was originated by Shemar Moore in May 1994, who received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his portrayal in 2000, with nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor in 1996 and 1997. After much speculation that Moore would exit the soap in 2000, he confirmed that he would depart at the end of his contract in the spring of 2001. However, in February 2001, Moore announced that he had extended his portrayal through the end of that year, and later confirmed that he would officially be leaving The Young and the Restless, and last aired on February 14, 2002. In September 2004, after a two-year absence, it was confirmed that Moore was to reprise the role. "We are thrilled to have Shemar back with us," said then head writer Jack Smith. "His story will be something very unexpected, off the page, and exciting. The man is going to have impact." Moore returned onscreen on November 1, 2004. Within weeks, Moore's publicist confirmed that the actor's return to the soap would be short-lived, as he had only signed a six-month contract.." "He's auditioning now and he has two or three films coming out next year," the publicist stated. "You know how this industry is. At least have him for six months." Although first speculated that Moore's exit would occur in May 2005, his last scenes as Malcolm aired on September 1, 2005. Soon after, Moore became widely recognized for his portrayal of Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds.

"I have been doing this long enough to know a few things. Look, Shemar is a great guy and a great actor, and a beautiful human being, but he is Shemar and I am Darius," McCrary explains. "I have been since I was nine years old. So whatever the role is, I am going to do the best I can do. Nobody brought up Shemar and it's cool. It has not been a thing of 'Oh, Shemar did this.' Everybody is giving me the love and respect to allow me to do what I do as an actor, and that was one of the beautiful things about this from the beginning. When I went in I did not know what to expect."

—Darius McCrary in an interview with Michael Fairman

In September 2009, news broke that the soap had put out a casting call for the role of Malcolm, and in November, it was announced that the role was recast with former Family Matters star Darius McCrary. He debuted on December 29, 2009; Malcolm was McCrary's first daytime role. In September 2011, it was reported that McCrary was let go from The Young and the Restless. His final airdate was October 17, 2011.